Meet Sara Mack - Austin women Magazine
- Artist Couple, llc
- Nov 16
- 10 min read
Updated: Nov 25
By Austin Woman Magazine
Sara turns blank walls into living stories, transforming risk into murals, art school into entrepreneurship and creative grit into The Artist Couple.
When did you realize art was more than a hobby? Was there a moment when you knew it was the direction you wanted to take your career?
I always knew I loved art, but it didn’t fully click as a career path until after college. I’d spent my childhood doodling on everything and knew I was happiest when I was creating. But, it wasn’t until I had to make those important, early adult decisions that I realized art could not just be something I was good at. It could be something I could build a life and a business around.
In high school, I was lucky enough to have a fantastic art teacher. She was the first one to tell me about art colleges and that changed everything. Fast forward a few years, Topher and I finished art school, escaped the Wisconsin winters and landed in Austin. Just a few weeks into our new apartment, I remember sitting on our bed job searching and coming up empty. Every creative role either needed five years of experience or was paid... not great. That’s when Topher said, “Why don’t we just start our own thing?” Murals were going up everywhere. We knew how to paint. It felt risky, but somehow also logical. So we did it, and never looked back.
How has your relationship with art evolved over the years? Did it change when you started The Artist Couple with your spouse?
My relationship with art has always been passionate, but like any long-term relationship, it’s also been complicated. Creating purely for yourself is very different than creating for a client, a critique or even alongside a partner. There are always outside pressures, (expectations, deadlines, fears), that sneak in no matter how experienced you are. Burnout is real, and nothing is more frustrating than feeling stuck in a creative rut. But, then you finish a piece you love and sell out on opening night, and you remember why you fell in love with art in the first place.
Starting Artist Couple with Topher over a decade ago changed everything. It turned us from art school grads into full-time working artists, and with that came growing pains. I definitely experienced imposter syndrome in the beginning, especially as a young woman business owner trying to be taken seriously in my early 20's. I had to learn to speak up, advocate for my work and trust my instincts in a way I hadn’t needed to as a student. That growth wasn’t always comfortable, and at times it made my relationship with art feel strained. But, like most challenges in life, it taught me resilience.
I'm now more experienced and confident, and I’ve learned to ride the creative rollercoaster instead of resisting it. The fear of judgment and failure has quieted, and I’ve started to embrace the parts of the process that used to give me anxiety. My relationship with art has matured over the years. It’s less about proving myself and more about creating from a place of clarity, connection, curiosity and passion.
The early days of your business were challenging - moving to a new city, starting a company and trying to get it off the ground. What kept you going?
That’s such an important question, because those early days were pretty tough and came with a lot of uncertainty. Topher and I had just moved to a new city, we didn’t know many people, and we were trying to figure out how to build a business from scratch while also still figuring out who we were as artists. Honestly, part of what kept me going was my stubbornness. I’ve never been very good at giving up. But more than that, I had this deep gut feeling that creating was what I was meant to do. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I was good at it and, not to mention, I had just gone to school and wracked up some serious student loans to study art for goodness sake! It didn't feel right to get an office job in something that wasn't creative.
Of course, fear of failure was very real. Not because I was afraid to try, but because failing publicly, especially when you’re young and trying to be taken seriously, can feel really heavy and permanent. I didn’t want to let down my partner, my peers or myself. But, I also had an incredible support system: my parents, Topher, close friends. Topher was a huge reason I kept going when times got tough. He would always listen to my complaints, celebrate every win and remind me why we started when I wanted to give up.
Looking back, it was that mix of grit, support and blind creative determination that kept us going. Failure felt like it wasn’t an option, not because I was certain of success, but because the alternative just didn’t feel like my path.
Speaking of the challenges, when things feel extra stressful, how do you take care of yourself?
I naturally have a bit of a workaholic personality, which can be a blessing and a curse. When I get stressed, my instinct is to work harder, push through and do more, which of course eventually leads straight to burnout if I’m not careful. Over the years, I’ve learned that staying creative and sane under pressure takes real intention, a little grace and figuring out what works for you.
One of my go-to tools is making lists. Honestly, I might have one too many, but it seems to work for me. I usually have three lists running at all times: daily tasks, weekly goals and monthly goals. Crossing things off gives me a sense of momentum, even if it's something small like “send an email” or “water the plants.” Productivity counts in all sizes, and even small wins deserve a little celebration!
For that sneaky kind of stress that creeps in quietly, I’ve found that movement is key. Walks, runs or just stepping away from a project to clear my head helps reset my brain. Sometimes I listen to a podcast or music, and other times I just let myself listen to birds and people-watch. Those moments of quiet help me reset and return to my work with a fresh perspective.
Most importantly, I’ve had to relearn what rest looks like. As someone who used to feel guilty or lazy for taking a day off, I’ve learned that rest isn’t indulgent, it can be very productive. I’m still working on that balance, and I've realized that taking a break when I need it isn’t quitting, it’s investing in my ability to keep going. All roads don't have to lead to burn out, thank god!
Have you had a project or commission that felt impossible or that you were ready to give up on? How did you push through?
Absolutely. I think every artist goes through this. There are days where I love what I’m creating, and days where I can't even make a straight line I like. I’ve learned over time that I’m always hardest on myself and that the panicked “I hate this” phase is usually just that–a phase.
The more I create, the easier it is to push through those moments. I’ve had pieces I felt completely defeated by while I was working on them, only to revisit them later and love them. I’ve learned it's important to practice positive and kind self-talk and know when to take a step back and spend time away from a piece in order to fully see its beauty. 'Fresh eyes' is something artists talk about a lot and is not always easy to keep when you create every day.
I have a few tricks that help me see with 'fresh eyes' when I might not have time to take a day or two break away from a piece. I’ll look at the artwork in a mirror, turn it upside down, or, if it's a mural or something large-scale, I'll take a photo and shrink it down to a thumbnail- the key is to shift my perspective. Going on a walk also helps me hit reset and see the piece with a clearer mind. And, of course, it always helps to bring in some literal 'fresh eyes'. Bringing in a second opinion is sometimes the best way to gain a new perspective!
Doing work for other people can be tedious. How do you keep your passion and joy for art going?
Creating for others can definitely be tedious at times, but it's also fascinating. No two projects are ever the same. Even if two people give me the exact same prompt, the result will come out different. That’s the magic of art. Every project brings a new challenge: a different space, a new surface, a unique personality, a fresh color palette. This novelty keeps me excited.
The connections I get to make also keeps the spark alive when creating for others. Topher and I both love meeting new people and learning about the client or collector, figuring out what they need from the piece, why it matters to them, and where the piece will live. It’s almost like being a creative detective trying to uncover what aesthetic and mood will really resonate, matching art to a person or a space. That process of discovery really adds so much purpose to the work.
The majority of our projects are service based work–commissioned artwork, murals and fine finishes–but I’ve learned the importance of making space for personal work, even if it's only in small ways. Sometimes it’s just a loose sketch in my sketchbook, or organizing my reference photos by color which, yes, is absolutely a form of art-joy! I also try to carve out time to experiment with new materials. Topher and I get weirdly excited about discovering niche paints online or squeezing in an extra sample panel just for us while prepping one for a client. This helps a lot when I feel like I am only creating for others. It's important to create for yourself too!
You're passionate about giving back to your community and being eco-friendly. What does that look and feel like in practice?
Yes! We try our best to be intentional in both how we give back and how we operate sustainably. On the eco-friendly side, we take extra steps to reduce waste in our studio and on job sites. We collect and properly dispose of old paint, sealers, and chemical waste during our local recycling center’s annual hazardous waste day. We mix paint in reusable or recycled containers, cut up old clothes and towels to make paint rags, and even repurpose dried-out brushes into quirky studio decor. They might seem like small things, but when they become habits, they add up, and it feels good knowing we’re reducing our footprint where we can while creating art.
As for giving back, community involvement is one of the pillars of our work. Topher and I both serve on the planning committees for the Bertram Art, Herb & Wine Festival and the Oatmeal Festival, and we donate our time, creativity and art to support local events and nonprofits. We’ve organized hands-on kids’ activities, donated art for raffles, done live painting and love to set up our photo booth at fundraisers to help bring something fun and to events. We donate to local non-profits and contribute our talents when and where they're needed.
Creating a vibrant community doesn’t happen by accident, it takes showing up, pitching in, and finding ways to use your talents for good. Whether that’s painting a mural or helping a kid pick out their favorite color, we try to contribute wherever we can. That’s what community means to us.
How do you stay true to your own artistic style amid shifting trends, particularly in the home-design field?
Topher and I both naturally gravitate toward a timeless aesthetic, so staying true to our style feels pretty natural. Trends come and go and they’re fun to play with, but our focus is always on creating work that feels thoughtful and classic, not trendy just for the sake of it.
Whether we’re working on a mural, a finish or fine art, our goal is the same: make it beautiful, make it intentional and make it last. If a current trend aligns with that vision, we’ll incorporate it in a way that feels elevated and custom, but we never chase what’s popular just to fit in, that's just not us.
Ultimately, I think it comes down to trusting your taste and having a clear sense of what you love. For us, that’s a mix of craftsmanship, simplicity, texture and a little bit of soul, and that never really goes out of style.
You studied printmaking in college, but your work at the Artist Couple goes far beyond that. What's your favorite type of art to create?
This feels like one of those impossible questions, like asking someone to pick a favorite food or song. There are too many I love for different reasons!
I’ve always been drawn to variety. My brain thrives on change, so if I’ve been doing a lot of paintings, I’ll usually try to carve out time to draw or print just to keep things fresh. My go-to mediums are painting, drawing and printmaking. Lately, I’ve been feeling the itch to create a collage, which I haven’t done in ages, (ADHD brain strikes again!).
Ultimately, my favorite type of art to create is whatever I’m inspired to make in that moment. Sometimes I’ll see something and immediately think, “That’s my next painting!” Other times, an idea will pop into my head and I’ll know it needs to be a woodcut, or a mural. It’s very instinctual. I don’t always plan what medium I’ll work in for my fine artwork, it’s more of a gut reaction. A spark hits and the medium reveals itself. Today my favorite might be drawing, tomorrow it could be woodcuts and next week it might be painting!
If you could sit down with the version of you just starting out, what advice would you give her?
Oh my, there’s so much I’d want to say. First, I’d tell her she’s doing a badass job and tell her to stop second-guessing herself and her work. I’d remind her that growth doesn’t always show up right away, but her hard work will pay off and to cherish her connections, friends and relationships.
I’d tell her to always bet on herself, even when it feels scary, and know that she’s going to grow into an artist, a partner, a daughter and a friend she’ll be proud of, so stop stressing so much. I’d remind her that rest is not laziness, and that taking a break is sometimes the most productive thing you can do. And finally, I’d tell her to be exactly who she is, even if that’s weird and sometimes awkward, because life is way more fun that way. She doesn’t have to be perfect, she just has to keep showing up.
